Nicholls, Oral Roberts splits Saturday's doubleheader

Nicholls State University came out swinging in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader to earn a split with Oral Roberts.

Teddy RenoisStaff Writer

Nicholls State University came out swinging in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader to earn a split with Oral Roberts.The Colonels erased an early 1-0 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the first inning and four more in the bottom of the second inning to take an 8-1 lead. Nicholls added two insurance runs in the fifth inning, and it needed them as Oral Roberts scored three runs in the top of the sixth and two more in the top of the eight but couldn't close the gap any further as Nicholls took a 10-6 win at Ray E. Didier Field.Oral Roberts won the first game of the doubleheader, 3-2, and the rubber-game of the Southland Conference series will begin at 1 today at Didier Field.Nicholls was held to just three hits in the first game but pounded out 14 hits against the Golden Eagles (12-13 overall, 3-5 in SLC) in the second game.Colonels head coach Seth Thibodeaux said winning the second game speaks of his team's character and ability to overcome adversity."It was a true testament of our guys, and we were hungry to get this win. In the first game, their guy pitched a heck of a game, and they pitched it well. I felt like we were playing not to lose instead of to win in that first game," Thibodeaux said. "Our guys came back with a vengeance in that second game. We scored in those first couple of innings and that set the tone for the rest of the night.The Golden Eagles got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Logan Domenico led-off with a single and later scored on Jose Trevino's sacrifice fly.Nicholls (14-14, 6-2 in SLC) responded in the bottom of the first with four runs off five hits and sending eight batters to the plate.The Colonels tied the game on Marc Frazier's RBI-single and then went up 2-1 on Tyler Duplantis' RBI-single. With two runners on and two-outs, David Zorn connected on a fly ball that had the Golden Eagles right fielder Tyler Boss falling to the ground as the ball rolled to the fence. The two runners scored on Zorn's triple for a 4-1 lead.After holding Oral Roberts scoreless in the top of the second inning, the Colonels added four more runs to its lead in the bottom of the inning.Vargas (3-for-5, two runs, three RBI) gave the Colonels a 6-1 lead when he connected on a two-run double that scored Brandon Jackson (3-for-4, run) and Philip Lyons.Nicholls went up 7-1 when Vargas scored on Cormier's double, and Cormier (3-for-4, two runs, two RBIs) would later score on Charles Morton's fielder's choice for an 8-1 lead.Nicholls extended its lead to 10-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning with two more runs. Vargas got an RBI on an infield single with the bases loaded for a 9-1 score. Cormier was next and he drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 10-1, but Nicholls left the base loaded as Frazier popped out to end the inning.After going scoreless for four innings, the Golden Eagles got three runs in the top of the sixth inning.Boss had a two-run triple and he later scored on Audie Afenir's single to make it a 10-4 score.The Golden Eagles kept the pressure on the Colonels with two more runs in the top of the eighth inning as pinch-hitter Emmanuel Forcier delivered a two-out two-run single to make it 10-6. That hit chased Frazier, who entered the game in relief of starter Grant Borne in the seventh inning, and Marc Picciola was summoned from the bullpen. Picciola got Austen Colt to ground out to first base to end the inning.In the top of the ninth inning, Picciola gave up a lead-off double, but he would retire the next three batters to pick up his fifth save on the season.Cormier said the Colonels came out with an aggressive attitude in the second game and that was the difference."I think we came out stagnant in the first game and it was a wait-to-see what happened deal. In the second game, we jumped on them and got them on their heels," Cormier said. "That is how we have to play ball and this is a big series for us. We have to come out (today) and really take care of business."Borne (4-1) got the win pitching six innings and giving up four earned runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts.Guillermo Trujillo (1-2) took the loss lasting one inning and giving up seven earned runs on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Oral Roberts used five pitchers in the game.

ORAL ROBERTS 3, NICHOLLS 2 (GAME 1)Oral Roberts scratched for a run in the first inning and two runs in the third inning for a lead its pitching would make stand.The Golden Eagles got a gutty effort from starting pitcher Kurt Giller and then closer Joseph Romano held the Colonels without base runner in the eighth and ninth innings in a 3-2 win. The Golden Eagles turned an infield single, two walks and a sacrifice fly by Brandy into a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.Oral Roberts added to its lead in the top of the third inning thanks to an RBI-single by Brandy and a run-scoring double from Boss for a 3-0 advantage.Nicholls went hitless for three innings but got a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on Morton's RBI-single for the 3-1 score.The Colonels cut into its deficit again in the bottom of the sixth inning on Frazier's one-out RBI-single to make it 3-2. However, the Colonels left two runners stranded as Giller got a foul out and a strikeout to end the inning. It would be the last time the Colonels threatened to score as Giller got the Colonels in order in the bottom of the seventh and Romano shut them down in the eighth and ninth picking up his fifth save.Giller (2-3) got the win going seven innings and giving up two earned runs, on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Romano finished with four strikeouts with no walks.Nicholls starting pitcher Taylor Byrd (4-2) took the loss pitching 5 1/3 innings and giving three earned runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Nicholls also used Cole Stapler, Stuart Holmes and John Satriano in the game.

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